The remains of the day- Stevens and Miss Kenton

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  • Remains of the Day
    • Stevens
      • Unreliable narrator
        • Unaware of his feelings for Miss Kenton- highlights the tragedy that he can't admit his feelings or can't articulate them.
      • Loyalty to Lord Darlington
        • Seen as both tragic and honourable
          • Honour- He is dedicated to his profession and wants to please
          • Tragic- dedicated to such an immoral man, denies knowing him so is aware of the implications of knowing LD
      • Missed Opportunities- remains of the day
        • Pier- ending, metaphor for the remaining time in his life
          • Could be seen as the remaining time that he can make good or the time he has missed out on
          • Meets retired butler- "The evenings the best part of the day"
          • "I should adopt a more positive outlook and try to make the best of what remains of my day"
        • "a couple more years and it might be too late" grey haired man
    • Miss Kenton
      • Unhappy with decisions- regret
        • "she is pondering with regretted decisions" - Letter to return to DH
        • Cynical "bound to be let down" Lisa's resignation to be a wife. Ironic as her true feelings are shown about her marriage to Mr Benn
        • ""the rest of my life stretches out like an emptiness before me"
          • Missed Opportunities- remains of the day
            • Pier- ending, metaphor for the remaining time in his life
              • Could be seen as the remaining time that he can make good or the time he has missed out on
              • Meets retired butler- "The evenings the best part of the day"
              • "I should adopt a more positive outlook and try to make the best of what remains of my day"
            • "a couple more years and it might be too late" grey haired man
        • "what a terrible mistake I made with my life"- realises the cause unlike Stevens who doesn't even realise
      • Attempts to show Stevens her feelings
        • "I believe I thought of it as simply another ruse, Mr Stevens, to annoy you"
        • Flowers
          • Symbolises Miss Kenton brightening and bringing feeling to Stevens life
          • Stevens rejection of the flowers shows his inability to accept change and his feelings- repression
    • Their relationship
      • Flowers
        • Symbolises Miss Kenton brightening and bringing feeling to Stevens life
        • Stevens rejection of the flowers shows his inability to accept change and his feelings- repression
      • Realisation of Stevens soft centre
        • "to prise the book away, practically one finger at a time"  "simply a sentimental love story"
      • Resolution of feelings
        • "I get to thinking about a life I might have had with you, Mr Stevens"
        • "at that moment my heart was breaking" still refuses to tell her his feelings
          • Admirable that he restrains himself from telling her he loves her to prevent her heartbreak and regret.
            • Honour- He is dedicated to his profession and wants to please
            • Tragic- Still seems repressed and doesn't have the courage to tell her

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